Lawmakers in the 36 State Houses of Assembly have received about N12 billion in salaries and allowances in the first two years of their tenure and passed 601 bills, most of which were initiated by the governors, according to a Daily Trust investigative report.

The report showed that are 978 members in the state legislatures, soaking up about N6 billion per annum in emoluments.

A state legislator receives about N6 million per annum, comprising basic salaries and other perquisites, according to the paper’s analysis based on records obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The RMAFC documents were obtained officially through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The documents showed that a state lawmaker earns more than 24 times the country’s Gross Domestic Product per person (GDP).

This means the legislator’s package is 24 times what each Nigerian citizen is worth when the nation’s total wealth is shared by the population.

According to RMAFC records, a state legislator receives an annual basic salary of N1.34 million; accommodation, N802,335; vehicle maintenance, N267,445; and recess allowance, N133,772.

The lawmaker also receives, once in four years, a vehicle loan of N5.3 million, furniture allowance of N2 million and N2.6 million as severance gratuity.

Other yearly emoluments are N334,306 for constituency allowance; N334,306 for domestic staff; N133,772 for utilities; and N66,861 as newspapers allowance.

In addition, the state lawmaker is entitled to N25,000 as duty tour allowance (DTA) per night and 600 US dollars estacode while on foreign trips per night.

Principal officers of the assemblies are entitled to responsibility allowance, while the speaker and his deputy are entitled to security and robe allowances as well as special assistants and legislative aides.

Each lawmaker is also entitled to medicals and special assistants.

•Photo shows Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

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